Combination furniture



Jan. 9, 1934. i C TRIDLE n 1,942,623

COMBINATION FURNITURE;

Filed June 16, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l /N VEN/OR /l TTOR NE Y.

Jan. 9, 1934. .1, c. TRIDLE COMBINATION FURNITURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 16, 1950 javi/ENTR eV/MW, ATTORNEY.

Jan. 9, 1934. J. c. TRIDLE COMBINAT ION FURNITURE Filed June 1e, 1930 s sheets-,sheet 3 MBV/UR.

BY f

Patented Jan. 9, 1934 jUNlTD STATES PAT '-f NT GFFIC COIWBINATION FURNITURE Jacob Clayton Tridle, Fresno, Calif.

Application June 16, 1930. Serial No. 461,391

2 Claims.

My invention relates to combination furniture. More specifically it relates to automobile campingfurniture wherein the bed frame is constructed so that it can be folded into a rigid frame for a box or trunk, the ends of the trunk are formed of stools, and the sides and bottom are formed of tables and a bench. The object of my device is the formation of complete camp equipage consisting of stools, benches, tables, and a bed frame,

0 all of which can be folded and readily formed into a trunk or box, which is adapted to hold the bedding camp equipage necessary on an ordinary camping trip. My device is constructed so that no part of the equipage need be laid on the ground while the trunk is being dismantled and the furniture is being assembled. The substantial form of the furniture and trunk when assembled and the ease with which they can be assembled in their various forms, are objects I have accomplished.

Fig. 1 shows the bed frame assembled as a trunk, frame resting on a trunk rack.

Fig. 2 is a front View of the trunk.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the trunk along sectional line 3--3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows the adjustment of the trunk frame shown in Fig. l as a bed frame having 'a fractional bed spring therein.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional enlarged view of one of the rails along the section line 5-5 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fractional enlarged view of the head and foot ends of the bed showing telescopic means for widening the bed.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged bottom view of a bed rail showing the means for making the rail rigid..

Fig. 8 is an enlarged modified form for stiffening the hinged joints.

Fig. 9 shows a channel member for stiffening the joints of the rail.

Fig. 10 is an inverted view of a stool adapted to cover an end of the trunk.

Fig. 11 is a table having folding legs adapted as a side or bottom of the trunk.

Fig. 12 shows the under side of the trunk cover.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged adjustable bed leg.

Fig. 14 is a modied form of trunk.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional view of the -T rail and a fractional View of the bed spring attached thereto. A

Fig. 16 is an enlarged view of a hinge for attaching the bed frame to the automobile bracket.

Fig. 17 is a view of two stools assembled with the trunk frame showing pin means for attaching the stools to the frame.

Fig. 18 is a fractional inside view ofthe trunk when assembled showing means for holding the. sides and ends rigid with the frame.

Fig. 19 is an enlarged cross sectional view of an expansive cross end member along sectional line 19-19 in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, 1 have constructed duplicate rails 123 formed of sections 10, 11, 12, and 13. These sections are hinged together and the joints are mitered so that when folded, the rails will form a quadrangular frame as shown in Fig. 1. The hinges preferably should be constructed so that the adjacent ends of each hinge have abutting shoulders, and the hinges cannot be opened beyond an approximately straight line. wish to limit my invention to the rectangular form shown in Fig. 1, for various other forms, including the form shown in Fig. 14 can be made by mitering the corners to form other shapes desired and forming the sections of the desired lengths. f

To be used as a bed it is necessary that the rail should be rigid as against downward pressure thereon. To accomplish this, hinges 15 can be used on the top of adjacent sections. To make the rail more rigid the sections can be constructed cf tubular material having a flat portion adapted as anges as shown in Figs. 5 and 7. Members 16, which preferably are bars of wood, are adapted to slide within the tubular rails 123 as shown in Fig. 7, and thus connect two adjacent sections. Member 16 can be slid within one of the sections when it is to be folded to trunk form. When it is to be adapted as a bed rail, member 16 can be slid to a position where it is partly within two adjoining sections. 1n using this form for interlocking adjacent sections the tubular portion can have a slot 1'7 as shown in Fig. '7, and the rigid member 16 can have a knob 18 attached thereto, which knob projects through slot 17 so the sliding member can be moved by hand.

Another connection suggested is to have the two sections connected by a channel member 59 as shown in Figs. 3 and 9. A slot 190 is placed laterally in the side of section ll. Channel member 59 is pivotally connected by pivot 2O throughv hole 202 to one section, and pivotally connected to the next adjacentfsecticn through slot 190 and hole 192 with pivot 191. To make this form work properly the bottom of the channel member should be cut away at the ends suiciently to permit the rail to fold when pulled upward at the joint.

The two bed rails are attached together at the It is here noted that I do not is hinged to the underside of ends with cross bars 23 and 24. These can be rigid single bars if desired but I prefer to have such bars formed of tubular member 231, and telescoping members 232 as shown in Fig. 6, the purpose of extending the cross bars being to enlarge the width of the bed. When opened to the desired width the cross bar can be locked by means of a pin 25 which is adapted to pass through holes 26. A spring 27 yieldingly holds the pin in engagement with holes 26, and interlocks therewith. Other well known means of locking the telescoping parts together can be used.

It is noted that one end of the bed frame can be hinged to the end of the automobile trunk rack 28 when desired, and the other end supported by legs 30. All four corners of the bed can be supported on legs similar to legs 3) if desired after detaching the hinged ends from the trunk rack 28. In Fig. 13 I have shown a form of adjustable folding leg which is adapted to this use. It consists of an ordinary square post 31 to which is hinged a supporting arm 32. The channel member 329 is attached to arm 32 and is adapted to snugly receive one of the rails. The arm is hinged to the post with a U strap 321 which encircles the post on 3 sides, the U stems being pivotally attached by pivot 322 to the arm a spaced distance from the end. The U member 321 can slide on post 3l. The end of arm 32 adjacent to the post is beveled on the top so that the arm can be turned on its post upward, approximately parallel with the leg, but when it is moved downward it will clamp the leg. This permits the height of the arm to be easily adjusted.

The bed spring can be any of the well known `forms or can be a canvas adapted to be stretched over the frame. The form I have shown in Figs. l4 and l5 has a plurality of hooks 34 which engage holes 35 in the head and foot rails. It is noted that in disassembling the bed the springs are removed, and can be carried in the trunk when assembled.

As shown in Fig. 11 the bottom of the trunk consists of a board or sheet of metal cut to nt snugly in the bottom of the frame shown in Fig. 1 within the periphery of the inside angle formed by the T rail when the rail is folded as a frame. The sides 40 likewise are boards or sheets of metal tted within the respective sides from the inside of the box. As shown in Fig. ll the sides and bottom can be formed into tables. These preferably can have the legs folded on an approximate plane with the table top. In Fig. 11 is shown such a table consisting of the table top 41 adapted to fit inside of the periphery of the flange when the bed rails are assembled as a box form. Legs 42 are attached together in pairs by strips 45. Each pair of legs the table top by hinges 46. Stops 44 are attached to the underside of the table top. When it is desired to assemble the table, the legs are swung on their hinges until they are on a plane approximately at right angles with the table top. The braces 43 are hinged or pivotally connected with the legs of the table and are of such length that when the legs stand at approximately right angles to the table top, the braces can be sprung down to be engaged by stops 44, in which position the legs will be firmly held in such position. When it is desired to fold the table the braces 43 are sprung from engagement with stops 44 and the legs and braces can be swung to an approximate parallel plane with the table top.

The ends of the trunk are preferably formed l as stool 50. Each stool consists of a board 51 adapted to fit within the inside periphery of the outside flange in the end of the trunk frame. Each of said end boards has four legs rigidly attached thereto at approximately right angles to the plane of said board ends. The legs on the two stools are placed at varying distances from the edge of the board ends, or stool tops, so that when the stool tops, or board ends are assembled with the trunk frames the ends of the trunk, and the legs extend inside of the trunk frame, the legs can overlap. It is noted that if the trunk is long enough the legs need not overlap as they would not meet. The legs on each stool should be spaced from each other so that the legs can enter the end opening of the trunk frame Holes 53 are made through the legs of the' stools. Holes 53 should register with holes in the frame as shown in Fig. 17. By means of pins 55 the stools are fastened to the frame. Other suitable interlocking devices can be substituted.

The top de is shown in Fig. 12 as having a drooping flange around its periphery. It is noted that the top of the trunk frame as shown on Fig. 1 is the cross par of the T which forms a flat surface. The top is formed so that the flange 61 will snugly nt around the frame. In Fig. 12 I have shown the top or" the trunk as a cover only, but folding legs can be placed thereon in the same manner as were placed on the sides to form either a stool or a table if desired.

The trunk is preferably carried on a trunkI form which is shown only to widen the scope of E the device I have invented, as the shape of the trunk is not a material matter in my invention.

Within the trunk thus formed can be carried the legs 30, the bed spring and bed clothing and such other articles as'are desirable in camping.

On disassembling the trunk and assembling lthe furniture therefrom, the top is first removed and the contents taken out of the trunk which contents may be placed on the trunk top. Then the ends, sides, and bottom are removed, the,

two ends of the frame are disconnected from each other, and the quadrilateral frames are pulled out into two straight rails and made rigid for use as a bed frame.

While this manner of construction of the bed rails and cross bars is particularly described as being intended for the forming of a frame for a trunk or box, it may also be readily used as an insert bed in connection with auto trunks, now or hereafter to be put in use, taking up very little of the present trunk space and not detracting from the present usages of the trunk, but adding the feature of a disappearing serviceable bed. This is accomplished by cutting the bed rails in sections and hinging the sections together so the folded frame wil fit inside the trunk along its sides and bottom.

I-Iaving described my invention I claim:

l. In combination two bed rails joined a spaced distance apart by cross bars adjacent to the ends of said rails, a cross section of either of said rails being in the form of a T having the stem thereof hollow, each of said rails being formed of a plurality of sections, hinge means connecting said sections, said hinge means being adapted to form each of said rails into an approximately straight line, or in a quadrangle, said quadrangles being spaced apart on parallel planes by the cross bars, and adapted to form a box form, a bottom member and side members formed to t Within the periphery of the angular recess formed inside the box form by said T shaped rails, on the bottom and sides of said box form, and end members formed to t within the periphery of the angular recess on the outside of the ends of said box forms, legs attached to the bottom, side, and end members adapting them as tables and stools.

2. In combination, two bed rails parallel With each other, cross bars connecting said rails at either end thereof, each of said bed rails being formed of sections hinged together, said hinged sections when thus assembled as a rail being adapted to permit said rail to be folded into an approximately quadrangular form, and to be opened in an approximately straight line, said cross bars being adapted to space said quadrangu lar forms apart, means for interlocking the sections of the rails when in an approximately straight line, means for interlocking the ends of the rails together when in a quadrangular form, plane members adapted to 'lt Within the openings formed when the rails are positioned in quadrangular form corresponding to the ends, sides and bottom of said form, said plane members being provided with legs adapting said members as stools or tables.

JACOB C. TRIDLE. 

